toad

noun

ˈtōd 

1

: any of numerous anuran amphibians (especially family Bufonidae) that are distinguished from the related frogs by being more terrestrial in habit though returning to water to lay their eggs, by having a build that is squatter and shorter with weaker and shorter hind limbs, and by having skin that is rough, dry, and warty rather than smooth and moist

2

: a contemptible person or thing

Illustration of toad

• toad 1

Synonyms of toad

• bastard
• dog
• clown
• jerk
• skunk
• snake
• rat
• joker
• reptile
• beast

Examples of toad in a Sentence

He's such a mean little toad.

that miserable toad is lucky to have even a single friend

Recent Examples on the Web

Emily Lindsey, curator and excavation site director at the La Brea Tar Pits’ center, said the discovery of the ice age toad is an example of the ongoing discoveries being made at the museum. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

Because the Mexican burrowing toad lives in rainforest conditions with lots of trees and precipitation, the Los Angeles area likely had similar conditions when the amphibian occupied it, Cruz said. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026

Part of the beach is located in the Ainsdale & Birkdale Sandhills Nature Reserve, which has walking paths and is home to rare species like the Natterjack toad as well as wildflowers such as the dune helleborine and yellow glandweed. — Lila Harron Battis, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026

Keep your toad lily out of the afternoon sun, which can scorch the blooms and shorten their lifespan, says Ledin. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tode, from Old English tāde, tādige

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing toad

• African clawed toad
• cane toad
• clawed toad
• giant toad
• horned toad
• marine toad
• spadefoot toad
• toad-in-the-hole
• tree toad

Rhymes for toad

• blowed
• bode
• code
• crowed
• flowed
• glowed
• goad
• growed
• knowed
• load
• lode
• lowed

Kids Definition

toad

noun

ˈtōd 

: any of numerous tailless leaping amphibians that lay their eggs in water and are distinguished from the related frogs by living on land more often, by having a build that is shorter and thicker with weaker and shorter hind limbs, and by having skin that is rough, dry and warty rather than smooth and moist